Guy Ritchie to Produce and Possibly Direct THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

Warner Bros. looks to have found their point man for The Man from U.N.C.L.E. The studio has been searching for a suitable replacement since director Steven Soderberghleft the long-in-development project over budget and casting disagreements, and now Sherlock Holmes director Guy Ritchie has signed on as producer with an eye to direct. Deadline reports that Ritchie and his Sherlock Holmes partner Lionel Wigram have signed on to produce the pic, with the intention of having Ritchie take the helm.

The film is based on the 1960s spy TV series and has a script by Scott Z. Burns (Contagion). There’s no word on whether Ritchie will want a new draft, but one assumes he’d like to tailor the project to his strengths. Production was set to begin this spring, but depending on how drastically Ritchie wants to change the project it may be a while before it goes in front of cameras. As for the lead role, Ritchie has gotten along famously with Robert Downey Jr. on the two Sherlock Holmes pics and the actor would certainly bring a great deal of fun to the role, so I’d be all for the two teaming up again on U.N.C.L.E. At this point though, there’s no new information regarding casting. Hopefully we’ll hear more soon.